Primera Liga reports

Brief reports of Primera Liga matches played on Sunday:

CELTA VIGO 0 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2

Celta continued their poor run of form when they slipped to a fourth home defeat of the season against an improving Athletic who moved up into fourth spot thanks to this first away win.

Defender Mari Lacruz headed home after a free kick 13 minutes into the second half and although Celta staged a brief fightback, during which an apparently legal Savo Milosevic goal was ruled out for offside, young right back Andoni Iraola wrapped up the win with a sharp angled drive in injury time.

ESPANYOL 1 SEVILLA 0

Ten-man Espanyol had to wait until the final minute of an even game at Montjuic before claiming their second win of the season, and their first under new coach Luis Fernandez.

The Catalans looked in trouble when defender Alberto Lopo was sent off for a second booking midway through the second half but they held on and the Ivory Coast's Cyrille Domoraud produced a splendid glancing header to snatch victory in the 90th minute.

MALAGA 0 OSASUNA 0

Osasuna weres unlucky not to come away with all three points after dominating throughout against a defensive Malaga.

The Navarrans came close to scoring when Inaki Munoz rattled the post with a fierce drive on 54 minutes and fellow midfielder Cesar Palacios saw his goalbound shot cleared off the line by Josemi three minutes before the final whistle.

MURCIA 2 VALENCIA 2

Valencia let slip their chance to go top when they surrendered an early lead against a lively looking Murcia.

Leading striker Mista put Rafa Benitez's side ahead when he slotted in on 13 minutes after pouncing on a loose ball just inside the area, but last season's second division champions hit back with well crafted goals from Richi and Michel either side of halftime.

Mista struck again on 55 minutes with a superbly directed header that flew past keeper Juanmi into the net and took his total for the season to eight goals.

RACING SANTANDER 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 2

Zaragoza only put together two dangerous attacking moves in the match but scored from both of them.

They went behind when defender Cesar Rebosio turned into his own net five minutes before the break as he tried to cut out a cross from Racing winger Mario Regueiro.

But the visitors were back on level terms five minutes later when Alvaro turned and rifled the ball into the top corner.

Racing had an apparently valid goal ruled out for a foul on the goalkeeper and went close on several occasions but Zaragoza grabbed the points when midfielder Fernando Soriano volleyed home four minutes from time.

REAL MADRID 2 ALBACETE 1

Champions Real were fortunate to maintain their perfect record at the Bernabeu when Zinedine Zidane popped up in the area to score a close-range headed winner seven minutes from time.

Real took the lead against the run of play when David Beckham scored with a spectacular 22-metre effort seven minutes before the break. He was upstaged a minute later when Albacete midfielder Libero Parri smashed home an unstoppable volley.

Albacete looked set for a hard-earned point but a brief loss of concentration allowed substitute Ronaldo and Santiago Solari to manufacture enough space to set Zidane up for the winner.

VALLADOLID 3 ATLETICO MADRID 1

Valladolid brought an abrupt end to Atletico's six-match winning run with a comprehensive win at rain-sodden Zorrilla.

Atletico took the lead on 14 minutes thanks to a clever finish from midfielder Kizito Musampa but Valladolid hit back to turn the game on its head before the break with goals from striker Ariza Makakula and midfielder Victor Zapata.

The visitors suffered another setback before halftime when defender Juan Manuel Ortiz was sent off for a second booking and they were all at sea by the time Francisco Sousa completed the win with a well-taken third goal midway through the second half.